Janet Ainsworth recieved her B.A. magna cum laude Brandeis University in 1974: Phi Beta Kappa. She recieved her M.A. for Yale University 1977. She also recieved her J.D. cum laude Harvard Law School 1980.

Professor Ainsworth was employed by the King County (Seattle) Public Defender’s Office from 1980-88, where she was staff attorney in the felony and appellate divisions and later served as training coordinator.

She currently sits on the board of directors of the Public Defender Association, and has authored amicus curiae briefs in the state and federal courts and to the U.S. Supreme Court. She joined the faculty in 1988. [Mark Godsey]